U.S. patent number 3,974,373 [Application Number 05/597,494] was granted by the patent office on 1976-08-10 for lamp fixture.
Invention is credited to Ira M. Zapolsky.
United States Patent |
3,974,373 |
Zapolsky |
August 10, 1976 |
Lamp fixture
Abstract
A lamp fixture for releasably holding a hollow globe is
comprised of a sheet metal housing that is generally cup shaped and
to the base wall of which is removably secured a pair of
diametrically opposed resilient clip members for holding the globe.
The clip members may be secured on any one of a plurality of
different diameters depending upon the specific dimension of the
diameter of the globe that is to be held.
Inventors: |
Zapolsky; Ira M. (Neponsit,
NY) |
Family
ID: |
24391748 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/597,494 |
Filed: |
July 21, 1975 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/363 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21V
3/00 (20130101); F21V 17/164 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
F21V
3/00 (20060101); F21V 17/16 (20060101); F21V
17/00 (20060101); F21V 017/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;240/128,135,139,143,144,146,148-150 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
256,987 |
|
Jan 1967 |
|
OE |
|
647,246 |
|
Nov 1928 |
|
FR |
|
1,257,891 |
|
Apr 1959 |
|
FR |
|
480,678 |
|
Apr 1927 |
|
DD |
|
Primary Examiner: Miller, Jr.; George H.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Friedman & Goodman
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A lamp fixture for releasably holding a hollow globe, said lamp
fixture comprising:
a. a housing; and
b. resilient clip means secured to a first portion of said housing
in either one of at least two different locations for holding
either one of at least two different sized globes in a fixed
position relative to said housing, said clip means being positioned
to engage a first portion of either of the globes and to urge a
second portion of either of the globes into contact with a second
portion of said housing, there being at least two of said clip
means and said locations thereof being defined by diameters of
different sizes, so that when a globe of a first size is to be held
by said fixture, said clip means are positioned on one of said
diameters; and when a globe of a different size is to be held by
the same fixture, said clip means are positioned on another of said
diameters.
2. A lamp fixture according to claim 1, wherein said clip means are
diametrically opposed to each other when positioned at each said
location.
3. A lamp fixture according to claim 1, wherein said housing
includes a base wall defining said first housing portion and a
peripheral side wall extending therefrom, said side wall defining
said second housing portion, said clip means including a first,
substantially L-shaped end having a first of two legs thereof
mounted on said base wall and a second, substantially L-shaped end
secured to the second leg of said first, substantially L-shaped
end, a portion of said second, substantially L-shaped end being in
contact with the inside surface of either of the globes and the
outside surface of either of the globes being in contact with a
portion of said peripheral side wall of said housing.
4. A lamp fixture according to claim 3, wherein said first and said
second ends of said clip means are resiliently secured to each
other at the junction thereof.
5. A lamp fixture according to claim 3, wherein said two legs of
said second L-shaped end of said clip means are resiliently secured
to each other at the junction thereof.
6. A lamp fixture according to claim 3, wherein there are further
included spacer means positioned between said first end of said
clip means and said base wall of said housing, said spacer means
being located on the larger of said diameters.
7. A lamp fixture according to claim 6, wherein said spacer means
are defined by raised portions of said base wall.
8. A lamp fixture according to claim 3, wherein there are further
included two pair of locating means on each said diameter, said
locating means of each said pair being diametrically opposed to
each other, said first leg of said first end of said clip means
being positioned between each said pair of said locating means to
thereby prevent rotation of said clip means.
9. A lamp fixture according to claim 8, wherein each said locating
means are defined by a pair of spaced apart ribs formed integrally
with and raised from said base wall.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to lamp fixtures and more
particularly to a single fixture that is adapted to support
dimensionally different diameter globes.
One common form of the prior art in the general class to which the
present invention is directed provides a fixture to which is
secured a globe by means of a plurality of screws that extend
radially through the side wall of the fixture and into engagement
with a peripheral lip of the globe. It will be appreciated that for
a given size prior art fixture, a globe of only a single specific
diameter can be accommodated. As will also be appreciated, this
form of prior art presents several other defects. That is, the
screws which retain the globe can become "frozen" and thereby make
their removal extremely difficult, particularly when it is
considered that the fixture frequently is on a ceiling and is both
difficult and awkward to reach. In addition, the screws can be
overtightened thereby cracking the globe which is frequently made
of glass or other brittle material and thus will entail some
additional expense as well as inconvenience to the user.
Furthermore, retailers are required to stock lamp fixtures for each
size of globe, thereby requiring a large inventory.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention, as will be described more fully hereinafter,
overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art mentioned above, and,
in addition, also permits more than one size globe to be used with
a single size fixture. The lamp fixture comprising the present
invention may be mounted on either a ceiling or a wall. It is
comprised of a generally cup-shaped, sheet metal housing. The
fixture further includes a pair of diametrically opposed resilient
clip means which are secured to the base wall of the housing on
either one of at least two different diameters having different
dimensions. Thus, when a relatively small globe, for example a 6
inch diameter globe is to be mounted, the resilient spring clips
are positioned diametrically opposed to each other on the smaller
of the two different diameters. When a relatively large globe, for
example an 8 inch globe is to be mounted on the same fixture, the
resilient spring clips are mounted diametrically opposed to each
other on the larger other diameter that defines an alternative
location. The smaller globe, which rests on the base wall of the
housing, is urged into contact with a portion of the side wall of
the housing by means of a portion of one of the legs of each of the
spring clips. When the alternative location of the spring clips is
used, the globe will again be urged into contact with the
peripheral side wall of the housing by means of one of the legs of
the spring clips but the base of the globe will be spaced from the
base wall of the housing in order to provide clearance for the
screws that secure the housing to either the ceiling or to the
wall. Spacer means, which may be in the form of a raised portion
formed integrally with the base wall of the housing, are used when
a larger diameter globe is to be mounted.
Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to
provide an improved lamp fixture which overcomes the disadvantages
of the prior art.
Another important object of the present invention is to provide an
improved lamp fixture, as described above, wherein two different
size globes may be accommodated in a single fixture.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
improved lamp fixture, as described above, wherein resilient spring
clip means are utilized for releasably retaining different sized
globes in a single fixture.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention
will, in part, be pointed out with particularity and will, in part,
become obvious from the following more detailed description of the
invention, by way of example, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawing, which forms an integral part thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
In the various figures of the drawing, like reference characters
designate like parts. In the drawing:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of one embodiment of the present
invention which is shown mounted on a ceiling, for example;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the embodiment of the
present invention shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the lamp fixture comprising the
present invention;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line
4--4 of FIG. 3, with the lamp fixture in a reverse position below
the globe;
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view taken along line
5--5 of FIG. 3, with the lamp fixture in the reverse position;
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view similar to FIG.
4 illustrating the alternative arrangement of the resilient clip
means comprising the present invention; and
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view similar to FIG.
5 illustrating the alternative arrangement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown an improved lamp
fixture 10 according to the present invention. The lamp fixture 10
includes a sheet metal housing generally designated by the
reference character 12, which has a base wall 14 and a peripheral
sidewall 16. As shown best in FIGS. 4-6, the base wall 14 is
recessed and the peripheral side wall 16 is formed of inner and
outer circular wall sections 18 and 20, respectively. The inner and
outer wall sections 18 and 20 are joined to each other by a
generous bight radius 22.
Referring specifically to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the
base wall 14 is provided with two diametrically opposed keyhole
shaped slots 24 which are adapted to receive screws 26 in a
conventional manner so that the housing 12 may be secured either to
a ceiling C as shown in FIG. 1 or to a vertical wall and the like.
In the usual manner the screws 26, which are affixed to a bracket
(not shown) in either the ceiling or the wall are passed (enlarged
head first) through the larger portions of the openings 24 and then
the housing 12 is rotated so that the shank of the screws 26 occupy
the elongated, narrow openings in the slots 24. The screws 26 may
then be tightened so that the screw heads abut against the base
wall 14 in order to secure the fixture 10. A central opening 28 is
also provided in the base wall 14 of the housing 12 in order to
accommodate the lamp socket and wiring in a conventional
manner.
Still referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that two pairs of
diametrically opposed holes 30 and 32 are formed in the base wall
14. The holes 30 are formed on a first, smaller diameter 34 and the
holes 32 are formed on a second larger diameter 36 (FIG. 3).
Straddling each of the holes 30 and 32 are locating means in the
form of pairs of spaced apart ribs 38 and 40, respectively. The
holes 32 and their respective ribs 40 are formed in spacer means 42
which are integral with the base wall 14 and are raised or spaced
therefrom for a purpose to be described hereinafter.
It is noted, that the position of the lamp fixture 10 is reversed
or upside-down in FIGS. 4-7 with respect to the globe to more
clearly illustrate the parts thereof. However, it is understood
that the lamp fixture 10 could be mounted in this position if
desired.
The resilient clip means comprising the present invention are
generally designated by the reference character 44. Each clip means
44, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 6, is comprised of a first,
substantially L-shaped end 46 which includes a first leg 48 and a
second leg 50. Gussets 52 are formed at the juncture of the first
and second legs 48 and 50 in order to prevent relative flexing
therebetween and a stiffening rib 54 is formed in the second leg
50. An opening 55 is also formed in the first leg 48.
Each spring clip 44 is further comprised of a second, substantially
L-shaped end 56 having one leg 58 secured to the second leg 50 by
means of a bight 60 and a second free leg 62 that is joined to the
first leg 56 by another bight 64. A stiffening rib 66 is formed in
the first leg 56. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that,
because of the bights 60 and 64, bending or flexing can take place
between the legs 50 and 56 and between the legs 56 and 62.
In the embodiment illustrated, the legs 48 of the spring clips 44
are secured to the base wall 14 by means of screws 68 that pass
through the openings 56 and either pair of openings 30 or 32 which
are registered with the openings 56. Nuts 70 may be used to secure
the spring clips 44 in place or the screws 68 may be of the
self-tapping type. The pairs of ribs 38 and 40 prevent rotation of
the spring clips 44.
While two spring clips 44 have been illustrated, it will be
understood that a greater number may also be used. Preferably, the
spring clips 44, regardless of the number that are used, will be
equally spaced apart in an angular direction. In addition, while
screws 68 and nuts 70 have been illustrated as providing means for
securing the spring clips 44 to the base wall 14, it will be
understood that other forms of attachment may also be used. For
example, tabs may be notched out by a stamping operation in order
to releasably hold the legs 48 of the spring clips 44.
By way of example, and without intending to be limiting, the
openings 30 may be placed on a diameter of 1 11/32 inches in order
to accommodate a 6 inch globe G. The openings 32 in the same
fixture would then be placed on a 2 inch diameter in order to
accommodate an 8 inch globe G'. When the 8 inch globe G' is
mounted, such as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the flange F' thereof will
be on the same diameter as the mounting screws 26. It is in order
to provide clearance between the flange F' and the head of the
screw 26 that the spacer means 42 are provided. By way of contrast,
the flange F of a 6 inch globe G will be radially inward of the
heads of the screws 26 so that spacer means in the vicinity of the
holes 30 are not required, as shown in FIG. 5.
By way of further example, and without intending to be limiting,
the height of the side wall 16 may be approximately 2 1/16 inch
while the diameter of the side wall 16 may be approximately 5 1/32
inch. The base wall 14 may be recessed approximately 7/8 inch below
the bight 22 and the diameter of the inner wall portion 18 of the
side wall 14 may be approximately 41/4 inch. The spacer means 42
may be 3/32 inch above the surface of the base wall 14.
From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that an improved lamp
fixture for releasably holding different sized hollow globes has
been provided. The globes are snapped into position and held by
means of the resilient clip means which obviate the need for the
prior art retaining screws. The clip means may be placed on a
diameter that is selected for a given size globe with at least two
different diameters being provided for the location of the clip
means. The clip means may be readily changed from one diametric
location to the other depending upon the size globe that is to be
mounted.
The clip means resiliently engage the inner surface of the globe
and impart a radially outwardly directed force in order to urge and
hold the outer surface of the globe in contact with a portion of
the housing. The clip means provide more than enough force to
support the weight of the globe when the lamp fixture is mounted on
the ceiling, the wall and the like.
There has been disclosed heretofore the best embodiment of the
invention presently contemplated. However, it is to be understood
that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without
departing from the spirit of the invention.
* * * * *